Eagles should try to trade for Revis

The NFL story of the morning is that the Jets have teams interested in trading for star cornerback Darrelle Revis, who wants more than the Jets are willing to pay him. So obviously, being an NFC East blogger, I immediately start thinking about whether an NFC East team is or should be among those interested. I think there's one. Let's go down the list.

A trade by the Eagles for Darrelle Revis would be a big step toward revamping their secondary. Doug Murray/Icon SMI

The Washington Redskins can't afford to make a deal like this. They need their second-round and third-round picks, because they don't have a first-round pick or any salary cap room.

The New York Giants could obviously use Revis and likely would love to have him, but there's no way Woody Johnson's going to let Revis play eight games a year in his stadium for John Mara's team if he can help it. I don't think the Giants can get him.

Which leaves the Philadelphia Eagles, who have the need for Revis as well as the ability to both get him and pay him. I think they need to make the effort.

The Eagles' biggest area of need is the secondary, where none of last year's four starters look like appealing options for 2013. They have to rebuild that whole thing, and what better way to start than by making a big-splash acquisition of the best defensive back in the league? They could release Nnamdi Asomugha, who was billed two years ago as something close to Revis but turned out to be very much not, and replace him with the real thing.

With eight picks in the upcoming draft and about $33 million in salary cap room right now ($44 million if they cut Asomugha), the Eagles have the wherewithal to make any move they want. Assuming the Jets are as motivated as they seem to be to trade Revis, the Eagles might be able to get him with a package led by their high third-round pick. That's a better pick than the Jets are likely to get as compensation if Revis leaves via free agency next year, and if the Jets wait for that to happen, Revis could end up signing with the Patriots and terrorizing the Jets twice a season for the rest of his career.

All of this is predicated on the Eagles' comfort level with Revis' return from his ACL injury, and for that reason the whole thing might not go down on the Jets' apparently preferred accelerated timetable. We might have to wait until closer to the draft, by which point the market for Revis will have thinned out as the result of free agency. But if you believe he'll come back healthy, this is a guy who hasn't yet turned 28 and is the absolute No. 1 difference-maker at his position in the league. He enables the rest of your defense to operate more freely, knowing the offense's top receiver is covered. He fits any scheme, and would instantly improve any defense.

If there are indeed teams ready to make a move for Revis, the Eagles need to make sure they're one of them. It would be a stellar way for their new coaching staff to kick off this portion of the offseason.